Will Trent Just Delivered Its Most Disturbing Scene Yet — And That’s Why It’s One of TV’s Best

While there are plenty of reasons why viewers tune into Will Trent, the show’s star was right to note that one of its most shocking season 3 moments was also one of its most important stories. Hopefully, Will Trent season 4 will give the show’s title character a slightly easier time of things. Based on the novel series of the same name by the acclaimed thriller author Karin Slaughter, Will Trent is an ABC procedural about the eponymous quirky GBI special agent and his investigations, helped and hindered alike by the Atlanta Police Department.

While Will Trent may be an ABC crime drama with a quirky protagonist, viewers shouldn’t go in expecting High Potential. Will Trent tones down the violent content of Slaughter’s source novels, but the show still has its moments of bracing brutality. Despite its quirky, offbeat tone, the series isn’t afraid of delving into the dark side of Will’s work and the psychological impact it has on him. Speaking to Deadline, series star Ramon Rodriguez accurately noted that this is a big part of the show’s outsized success.

Will Trent Season 3’s Most Horrifying Moment Will Continue To Impact Will In Season 4

Will Accidentally Killing A Child Haunted Him In Season 3

Rodríguez talked about how Will accidentally shooting and killing a child affected him deeply and will continue to do so when Will Trent season 4 begins, shaping the character’s trajectory from here on out. Will’s accidental killing of an innocent child pointed out a horrifying reality of real-life law enforcement that is often skimmed over or elided entirely in more glamorous cop shows. Rodriguez spoke to law enforcement officers about the heavy psychological burden such events create and the psychic toll they have on the killer.

Will Trent’s refusal to shy away from harsh realities like these, and the show’s concurrent decision not to turn them into outlandish melodrama like most network procedurals, makes the Slaughter adaptation stand out from other broadcast shows. Viewers might tune in to find out who Will Trent’s new season 4 love interest will be or to see his latest misadventure with Betty, but the show’s refusal to sugarcoat the dark realities of an imperfect justice system keeps them coming back for more.

It’s A Real Thing That Impacts Law Enforcement & Extracts A Heavy Toll

An Estimated 250,000 Civilian Injuries Are Caused By Law Enforcement Officers Annually

According to the University of Illinois Chicago’s Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project, around a quarter of a million US citizens are injured by interactions with law enforcement officers every year. The same project discovered that at least 600 people are killed by US law enforcement annually, while numerous reputable sources place that number at an even higher figure. Will Trent’s season 3 shooting is tragic in its believability, and the cost of these incidents is almost immeasurable.

For the officers involved, these killings can result in PTSD, survivor guilt, and depression, while studies show that the events themselves engender a fear of police and distrust of law enforcement in the communities impacted. While police brutality is another, altogether worse issue, accidental killings of civilians alone observably grow increasingly commonplace in areas where the police are more heavily armed.

Will Trent’s Decision Not To Shy Away From Moments Like That Set It Apart From Other Network Shows

The Karin Slaughter Adaptation Doesn’t Ignore The Dark Side of Will’s Work

It won’t shock fans of Karin Slaughter’s books to discover that Will Trent‘s TV adaptation is so unsparing, since the author is commendable in her refusal to romanticize the reality of police work and violent crime. This makes for a welcome change from the more cartoonish, glamorized depictions of policing often seen on network television, while Will Trent’s moments of merciful levity ensure the show isn’t entirely downbeat despite these elements of relative realism.

It is exceedingly rare to see American television depictions of the police reflect the reality of the institution. As such, Will Trent’s daring decision to include a moment where the show’s title character shoots and kills a child is notable for its tenacity. This is the reason Will Trent has proven a hit with audiences, as the show fills a niche none of its competitors have been able to.